TIDMJPR

RNS Number : 6058F

Johnston Press PLC

19 May 2017

19 May 2017

Johnston Press plc

AGM Trading Update

The Board of Johnston Press ("Johnston Press" or "the Group"), ahead of the AGM on 22 May 2017, provides the following trading update for the 17 week period from 1 January 2017 to 30 April 2017. Comparatives are against the same 17 week period in 2016, unless otherwise stated.

The trends seen in the first quarter, as set out in the announcement of the Group's 2016 results on 29 March 2017, have continued and the Board expects trading for the full year to be in line with market expectations.

-- Total revenues for the period, including the i, were up 0.2%; excluding the i, total revenues were down 12%

-- Digital advertising revenues (excluding classified) were up 10%; including classifieds, digital revenues were up 3%

   --     On-network digital audiences are up 11% to 26m, with average page views up 17%

-- The i newspaper continues to perform well, with newspaper sales volumes (excluding bulks) up 4% in the 12 months since acquisition, circulation revenues up 23% and average website unique users grew 12% from February 2017 to March 2017

-- Circulation volumes of key daily newspapers, The Scotsman and Yorkshire Post, continue to improve, while other large dailies have also seen some improvement, including the Sheffield Star, Yorkshire Evening Post and the Edinburgh Evening News

The Board notes that trading conditions for regional newspapers in the UK remain challenging and, while encouraged by improving trends across the Group, the management team continues to take actions to manage its costs tightly.

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For more information, contact:

 
 Johnston Press plc 
  Ashley Highfield, CEO 
  David King, CFO                                 020 7612 2600 
 Panmure Gordon 
  Dominic Morley 
  Charles Leigh-Pemberton                         020 7886 2500 
 Liberum 
  Neil Patel                                      020 3100 2000 
 Powerscourt                                      020 7250 1446 
  Juliet Callaghan / John Elliott     jp@poowerscourt-group.com

Notes to the Trading Update

1 The figures are derived from unaudited management accounts and presented on a continuing adjusted basis including the acquisition of the i on 11 April 2016 and excluding disposals or closures of businesses and other non-trading or exceptional items.

2 Total advertising revenues (excluding classifieds) excludes revenues from Jobs, Property, Motors, other classifieds and features.

3 The digital business (Digital advertising revenue (excluding classifieds)) includes Local and National Display, Digital Marketing Services, content marketing and syndication revenues and excludes classifieds.

   4      Newspaper sales includes the i newspaper from 11 April 2016.

The announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

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This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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